Short-tailed Albatross

Phoebastria albatrus

The largest and only white-bodied albatross in the north Pacific with a golden, yellow cast on head and nape. The upper wings are white with black primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Under wings are white with black leading and trailing edges, and the tail is white with black fringe. Large, pink bill with blue tip and black boarder around the base and pale bluish feet and legs.

The Short-tail population dropped dramatically due to feather hunters in the late nineteenth century. Over 5 million adults were hunted and killed. In 1939, their breeding grounds in Torishima were buried under 10-30 meters of lava as a result of a volcanic eruption. Population numbers dropped to 10 nesting pairs. The world population of Short-tailed albatross is currently estimated at 2,200 birds.

Short-tails breed on Torishima, an island owned and administered by Japan. They have also been observed (non-breeding behavior) on Minami-Kojima in the Senkaku Islands of Southern Ryukyu Islands, also owned and administered by Japan.

The average age of first breeding is 6 years. Short-tailed albatross are monogamous and have been known to create a new pair bond if original mate disappears or dies. They return to natal colony or may disperse to breed. The first adults return to the colony in late October. Short-tails build their nests with surrounding sand, shrubbery or volcanic debris. The female lays one egg and incubation lasts approximately 65 days and is shared by both parents. Both adults feed the chick by regurgitating a mixture of flying fish eggs and squid oil. Sometime between late May and mid-June, chicks are almost full-grown and adults begin to abandon their nests. Chicks fledge soon after the adults leave the colony.

Facts About Short-tailed Albatross

Diet

Flying fish eggs, shrimp, squid, and crustaceans - feed primarily during daybreak and twilight hours. Have been known to forage as
far as 3,200 km (1,988 miles) from their breeding grounds.